I Have Seen Thy Tears
“...I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears...” (II Kings 20:5) Brief study of II Kings 20 will demonstrate that this chapter falls during the reign of Sargon, the Assyrian who was king after Shalmaneser and before Sennacherib. Among the evidences of this order of events is that,…
Grow in Grace
One of the best known of all the references to grace in the Bible is Peter's summary statement at the conclusion of his second epistle, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. Certainly, this…
Hannah: Commendable & Unusual
“…the name of the one was Hannah…” (I Samuel 1:2) Hannah stands spiritually above her contemporaries and counterparts even as Saul stood physically head and shoulders above the people of his day. Her quality of spirituality is both commendable and unusual. She demonstrated in her everyday life better Christian character…
Say What? A Terrible “Bible” Argument
I recently came across an argument by a professing Christian who was attempting to refute a fundamentalist (i.e. someone who believes the Bible) with what amounts to a full frontal assault on sola scriptura. It is a weak assault, but an assault nonetheless. It goes like this: “Christ Himself is…
3 Reasons to Think Biblically About Everything
We Christians are often guilty of “compartmentalizing”; that is, placing God in his little box while we--living in the “real world”--take care of our own problems and live according to our own devices. But the Bible advances a different view of reality. On this view, there is no ultimate significance…
Implications of Sola Scriptura
Sola scriptura is a term first applied during the Reformation period that refers to the acceptance of Scripture alone as the only infallible source of truth, and therefore the highest and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. But as alluded to in a previous post, the term…
Jesus is Coming Again
“…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Act 1:11). A beloved southern gospel song starts with the words “Jesus is coming soon…” While no one knows how soon, all who read and…
Helping Grace
This is post #2 in a series on Grace. Grace is a gem with many facets. Peter said as much when he admonished us, As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10) "Manifold"…
Pie in the Sky or Steak on the Plate: What is Christianity?
The old preacher once said, “I’m glad for the pie in sky when I die, but I’d like some steak on my plate while I wait!” Although this is a lighthearted remark, sadly, it is representative of the way a vast number of people understand classical Christianity. The idea advanced…
Priestly Praying
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood…a royal priesthood…” “…and hath made us…priests unto God…“ I Peter 2:5, 9 (selected) Revelation 1:6 Levitical priesthood law, according to Hebrews 7:11-19, has changed. “There was made of necessity a change” because the priests who were Aaron’s…